Electrode connecting apparatus for furnaces

ABSTRACT

An electrode connecting apparatus for furnaces comprises upper and lower casings slidably coupled to each other through a shock absorber, a lower gripping means provided on said lower casing, an upper gripping means provided on said upper casing, and a cylinder means for rotating said upper gripping means independently of said upper casing.

United States Patent Yuasa et al.

ELECTRODE CONNECTING APPARATUS FOR FURNACES Inventors: lwao Yuasa; Seiji Nonoyama, both of Nagoya, Japan Assignee: Daido Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha,

Nagoya-shi, Aichiken, Japan Filed: Mar. 14, 1973 Appl. No.: 340,951

Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 16, 1972 Japan 47-26151 US. Cl. 13/18 Int. Cl. H05b 7/14 Field of Search 13/18 [4 1 Mar. 12, 1974 [56] References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 578,473 7/1946 Great Britain 13/18 976,617 1/1964 Germany 13/18 1,080,708 4/1960 Germany 13/18 Primary Examiner-Roy N. Envall, Jr

[57] ABSTRACT An electrode connecting apparatus for furnaces comprises upper and lower casings slidably coupled to each other through a shock absorber, a lower gripping means provided on said lower casing, an upper gripping means provided on said upper casing, and a cylinder means for rotating said upper gripping means independently of said upper casing.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Pmmmm 12 1974 3.796818 SHEET 2 OF 3 FIG. 2

ELECTRODE CONNECTING APPARATUS FOR FURNACES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an electrode connecting apparatus for use in furnaces.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the past, connection of a new electrode with an old electrode in a furnace was effected according to the following procedure. Special clamping tools which can be manually operated are first mounted on the new and old electrodes respectively. A few human operators get on the top of the furnace which is not convenient for them to work therein and manually rotate the clamping tools to connect the new electrode with the old electrode. They finally strike the new electrode against the old electrode with large hammers or the like to complete the connection of the new and old electrodes.

An electrode connecting apparatus has been invented differently from this invention. The electrode connecting apparatus has the advantage that a new electrode can be connected to an old electrode without any human operator being required to get on the top of the furnace. However, the electrode connecting apparatus has the disadvantages that it is not possible to connect a new electrode to an old electrode while the old electrode is floated in any suitable position in a pool of melted steel so that the bottom of the arc furnace may be protected and that it is not necessarily possible to effect exact centering of the new and old electrodes.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention toprovide an electrode connecting apparatus for use in furnaces having advantages over the apparatus as mentioned above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, there is provided an electrode connecting apparatus for use in furnaces, comprising clamping means for holding a new electrode, means for rotating the new electrode including a cylinder mechanism, a buffer for absorbing impact forces as caused when the new electrode is connected to an old electrode, and clamping means for holding the old electrode in the apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from a' study of the written description and the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinally sectional view of an embodiment of the electrode connecting apparatus according to this invention as placed on a preparing base;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinally sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, but placed over an old electrode;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 as taken along the line A-A; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 as taken along the line B-B.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. I, an electrode connecting apparatus according to this invention is illustrated. The apparatus comprises upper and lower casings 4 and 5.

The upper and lower casings 4 and 5 are coupled to each other through shock absorbers 14 so that the lower casing 5 may be axially movable relative to the upper casing 4. The shock absorbers 14 are secured between and to projecting members 26 and 27 provided on the lower casing 5, and the top parts 23 of the shock absorbers 14 are secured to a ring member 20 provided in the upper casing 4 by screwing bolts 22 or the like into threaded holes 21 of the ring member 20. A sliding ring 6 is fitted onto the upper casing 4. Cylinder means 7 is secured to the upper casing 4. The forward portion 25 of the rod of the cylinder means 7 is connected to the sliding ring 6 through a pin 8 so that reciprocation of the rod of the cylinder means 7 may cause the sliding ring 6 to be rotated with respect to the upper casing 4 (see FIG. 3). The sliding ring 6 is also provided with an upper gripping means. As shown in FIG. 3, the upper gripping means comprises a cylinder 9, a pair of grippers 11 and links 10 pivotally mounted on the sliding ring 6 through fixed pins 13, one of the links 10 being connected to one of the grippers 11 at one end thereof through a pin 12 and to one end of the cylinder 9 at the other end thereof, the other link 10 being connected to the other gripper 11 at one end thereof through another pin 12 and to the other end of the cylinder 9 at the other end thereof, thereby reciprocation of the rod of the cylinder 9 can cause the grippers 11 to be brought to an opened position or a closed position. The shock absorbers 14 serves as a buffer for impact forces caused when the upper casing 4 is lowered. The lower casing 5 is provided with lower gripping means. As shown in FIG. 4, the lower gripping means comprises a cylinder 15, a pair of grippers l7 and links 16 pivotally mounted on the ring 31 of the lower casing 5 through fixed pins 19, one of the links 16 being connected to one of the grippers 17 at one end thereof through a pin 18 and to one end of the cylinder 15 at the other end thereof, the other link 16 being connected to the other gripper 17 at one end thereof through another pin 18 and to the other end of the cylinder 15 at the other end thereof, thereby reciprocation of the rod of the cylinder 15 can cause the grippers 17 to be brought to an opened position or a closed positron.

In operation, the electrode connecting apparatus according to this invention is first placed on a preparing base 3 which comprises a plate 3A and a raised block 38. A new electrode 1 is lifted up by a crane or the like and then is inserted into the upper casing 4 until it puts on the preparing base 3 as shown in FIG. 1. The upper gripping means is positioned. Delivery of pressurized oil into the clamping side of the cylinder 9 causes the grippers 11 to clamp the new electrode 1. The clamping force can be adjusted by changing the pressure of oil delivered.

Next, the electrode connecting apparatus with the new electrode is lifted up by a crane in such a way that it hang from the hook of the crane at the hook 32 thereof, and then is lowered toward the top of an old electrode 2 to which the new electrode is to be con nected. Then, the apparatus is further lowered so that it may be guided by the guide 31 thereof and may be fitted onto the old electrode 2. When the bottom of the guide 31 of the lower casing 5 reaches the top of the furnace, the upper casing 4 will gravitate due to its own weight and the weight of the new electrode 1. Provision of the shock absorbers l4 enables the new electrode 1 to be slowly lowered toward the old electrode 2. After the new electrode 1 stops lowering, pressurized oil is delivered to the clamping side of the cylinder 15, thereby the old electrode 2 is clamped by the lower grippers 17.

When the new electrode 1 is held by the upper grippers 11, pressurized oil is delivered to one side of the cylinder 7 to rotate the sliding ring 6 clockwise so that the new electrode 1 can be rotated through a predetermined angular distance, thereby the male screw 33 of the new electrode 1 can be screwed into the female screw 34. Next, pressurized oil is delivered to the returning side of the cylinder 9 to release clamping of the new electrode 1 by the upper grippers 11, and then pressurized oil is delivered to the other side of the cylinder 7 to return the rod of the cylinder 7 to its original position so that the sliding ring 6 can be reversely rotated through the predetermined angular distance. These operations are repeated until connection of the new electrode 1 with the old electrode 2 is completed. After the connection of the new electrode with the old electrode is completed, pressurized oil is delivered to the returning sides of the cylinders 9 and to release clamping of the new and old electrodes by the grippers 11 and 17 respectively, and then the electrode connecting apparatus is lifted up by a crane until it is disengaged from the new electrode 1 and is finally placed on the preparing base 3.

As will be apparent from the foregoing, the present apparatus has the following advantages: it is possible to securely effect connection of electrode by a constant clamping force; and it is possible to effect remote controlling by only one human operator, resulting in considerable reduction of labour cost. Therefore, the present apparatus will be greatly useful in industry.

We claim:

1. Apparatus adapted to be disposed in a predetermined position over a furnace for connecting a new electrode carried in the apparatus to an old electrode in the furnace, comprising upper and lower casings slidably coupled to each other through a shock absorber, a lower gripping means, for gripping the old electrode, provided on said lower casing, an upper gripping means, for gripping the new electrode, provided on said upper casing, and means for rotating said upper gripping means independently of said upper casing.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said lower gripping means comprises a cylinder actuating means with a rod, a pair of grippers and links, a ring on said lower casing, said links being pivotally mounted on said ring of said lower casing through fixed pins, one of said links being connected to one of said grippers at one end thereof through another pin and to one end of said cylinder at the other end thereof, the other link being connected to the other gripper at one end thereof through still another pin and to said rod of said cylinder at the other end thereof, whereby reciprocation of said rod of said cylinder causes said grippers to be brought I to an opened position or a closed position.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a sliding ring disposed on said upper case and in encircling relationship to the electrode received in said upper casing, and wherein said upper gripping means is mounted on said slid ing ring and comprises a cylinder actuating means with a rod, a pair of grippers and links pivotally mounted on said sliding ring through fixed pins, one of said links being connected to one of said grippers at one end thereof through another pin and to one end of said cylinder at the other end thereof, the other link being connected to the other gripper at one end thereof through still another pin and to said rod of said cylinder at the other end thereof, whereby reciprocating of said rod of said cylinder causes said grippers to be brought to an opened position or a closed position, and said means for rotating said upper gripping means includes another cylinder actuating means with a rod mounted on said upper casing, and said rod is pivotally connected to a pin shaft on said sliding ring.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said shock absorber includes a cylinder and rod, said cylinder of said shock absorber being mechanically connected to said lower casing and the outer end of said rod of said shock absorber is mechanically connected to said upper casing.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said lower casing is provided with a guide member for receiving the old electrode. 

1. Apparatus adapted to be disposed in a predetermined position over a furnace for connecting a new electrode carried in the apparatus to an old electrode in the furnace, comprising upper and lower casings slidably coupled to each other through a shock absorber, a lower gripping means, for gripping the old electrode, provided on said lower casing, an upper gripping means, for gripping the new electrode, provided on said upper casing, and means for rotating said upper gripping means independently of said upper casing.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said lower gripping means comprises a cylinder actuating means with a rod, a pair of grippers and links, a ring on said lower casing, said links being pivotally mounted on said ring of said lower casing through fixed pins, one of said links being connected to one of said grippers at one end thereof through another pin and to one end of said cylinder at the other end thereof, the other link being connected to the other gripper at one end thereof through still another pin and to said rod of said cylinder at the other end thereof, whereby reciprocation of said rod of said cylinder causes said grippers to be brought to an opened position or a closed position.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a sliding ring disposed on said upper case and in encircling relationship to the electrode received in said upper casing, and wherein said upper gripping means is mounted on said sliding ring and comprises a cylinder actuating means with a rod, a pair of grippers and links pivotally mounted on said sliding ring through fixed pins, one of said links being connected to one of said grippers at one end thereof through another pin and to one end of said cylinder at the other end thereof, the other link being connected to the other gripper at one end thereof through still another pin and to said rod of said cylinder at the other end thereof, whereby reciprocating of said rod of said cylinder causes said grippers to be brought to an opened position or a closed position, and said means for rotating said upper gripping means includes another cylinder actuating means with a rod mounted on said upper casing, and said rod is pivotally connected to a pin shaft on said sliding ring.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said shock absorber includes a cylinder and rod, said cylinder of said shock absorber being mechanically connected to said lower casing and the outer end of said rod of said shock absorber is mechanically connected to said upper casing.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said lower casing is provided with a guide member for receiving the old electrode. 